System, migration control method, and management apparatus

ABSTRACT

A system includes circuitry configured to determine available electric energy to be supplied to each of a plurality of servers over a predetermined period of time based on electric energy generated by alternative energy sources for each of the plurality of servers disposed at a plurality of geographically separate locations, each of the plurality of servers being configured to run a virtual machine. The circuitry is further configured to control a virtual machine running on a first server of the plurality of servers to migrate to a second server of the plurality of servers, which is determined to have a larger amount of available electric energy than the first server.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of theprior Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-177562, filed on Sep. 1,2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The embodiments discussed herein are related to a system, a migrationcontrol method, and a management apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, virtualization technology in which a virtual machine isoperated on a physical server is in general use. For example, in datacenters, environments for running a virtual machine on a physical serverusing a virtualization program are on the rise. The virtualizationprogram has a function of moving a virtual machine running on a physicalserver to a physical server in another data center. Such moving of avirtual machine is referred to as “migration”.

The following technique is proposed using this migration function.First, data centers are disposed to be distributed geographically. Then,if electric energy consumed at a certain data center exceeds apredetermined power consumption threshold value, a data center havingpower consumption less than or equal to a specific threshold value isidentified, and a virtual machine is caused to migrate to the identifieddata center. Such a technique is provided.

As related-art technical literature, Japanese Laid-open PatentPublication Nos. 2009-48607, 2003-299248, and 2009-247188 are disclosed.

Incidentally, data centers are generally receiving power from a powercompany. However, if it is assumed that a data center is receiving poweronly from a power company, it is sometimes not possible to operate asystem in a stable manner by related-art techniques. For example, if afailure occurs in power distribution facilities, a power transmissionand distribution network, or the like of the power company, and thuspower supply is stopped, it is not possible to operate a system in astable manner by related-art techniques.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, a system includes circuitryconfigured to determine available electric energy to be supplied to eachof a plurality of servers over a predetermined period of time based onelectric energy generated by alternative energy sources for each of theplurality of servers disposed at a plurality of geographically separatelocations, each of the plurality of servers being configured to run avirtual machine. The circuitry is further configured to control avirtual machine running on a first server of the plurality of servers tomigrate to a second server of the plurality of servers, which isdetermined to have a larger amount of available electric energy than thefirst server.

The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attainedby means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out inthe claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and arenot restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a hardware configuration of an information processingsystem according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a functional configuration of a data center accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a data structure of a running systeminformation;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a data structure of line bandwidthdata;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a data structure of migration requisitetime data;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of prediction results of transition ofelectric energy generated by each data center;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure ofmigration control processing according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of prediction results of transition ofelectric energy generated by each data center;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure ofmigration control processing according to a second embodiment; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a computer that executes a migration controlprogram.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With an embodiment of the disclosure, it is possible to operate a systemin a stable manner. In the following, a detailed description will begiven of a management apparatus, a migration control program, and aninformation processing system according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure with reference to the drawings. It is assumed that thepresent embodiment is applied to an information processing systemincluding a plurality of data centers that provide virtual machines. Inthis regard, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments. Also, itis possible to suitably combine each of the embodiments within a rangeof not causing a discrepancy between the processing contents.

First Embodiment Configuration of Information Processing SystemAccording to Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of aninformation processing system according to an embodiment. As illustratedin FIG. 1, an information processing system 10 includes a plurality ofdata centers (DCs) 11. The plurality of data centers 11 are individuallyconnected through a network 12. The network 12 may be a dedicated line,or may not be a dedicated line. The information processing system 10 isa system in which migration of a virtual machine (VM) is possiblebetween the individual data centers 11 through a network 12. In thisregard, in the example in FIG. 1, three data centers 11 (11A, 11B, and11C) are illustrated. However, it is possible to determine the number ofdata centers 11 to be any number as long as the number is two or more.

The data center 11 is capable of using electric power generated byalternative energy sources (natural energy) in addition to electricpower supplied from a commercial power source, such as a power company,or the like as electric power for use. This alternative energy resourcesis energy that is replenished steadily or repetitively by power ofnature, for example, sunlight, wind force, wave force, tidal power,flowing water, tide, geothermy, biomass, and the like. Electric powergeneration by alternative energy resources includes, for example, solarpower generation, wind power generation, hydroelectric power generation,wave power generation, geothermal power generation, biomass powergeneration, and the like. In the present embodiment, a description willbe given of the case where the data center 11 is capable of usingelectric power by solar power generation as electric power generated byalternative energy resources as an example.

Each data center 11 is disposed at a location separated geographicallywith each other such that if abnormality caused by a disaster or thelike occurs at any one of the data centers 11, the other data centers 11will not be affected by the abnormality. In the present embodiment, itis assumed that each of the data centers 11 is disposed at an areahaving a different sunshine time zone. For example, it is assumed thatdata centers 11A, 11B, and 11C are disposed in A country, B country, andC country, which have different sunshine time zones, respectively.

Hardware Configuration of Data Center

Next, a description will be given of a functional configuration of thedata center 11 with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagramillustrating a functional configuration of the data center according tothe embodiment. In this regard, the functional configurations of thedata centers 11A to 11C are substantially the same, and thus in thefollowing, a description will be given of a configuration of the datacenter 11A as an example.

The data center 11 includes a plurality of server apparatuses 13, and amanagement apparatus 14. The plurality of server apparatuses 13 and themanagement apparatus 14 are connected through a network 15, and arecapable of communication. The network 15 is connected to the network 12in a communicable manner, and is allowed to communicate with the otherdata centers 11 through the network 12. In this regard, in the examplein FIG. 2, three server apparatuses 13 are illustrated. However, it ispossible to set the number of server apparatuses 13 to any number. Also,in the example in FIG. 2, one management apparatus 14 is illustrated.However, two or more management apparatuses 14 may be provided.

The server apparatus 13 is a physical server on which a virtual machine,that is to say, a virtualized computer, is operated in order to provideusers with various services, and is a server computer, for example. Theserver apparatus 13 executes a server virtualization program so as tooperate a plurality of virtual machines on a hypervisor, and therebyoperate application programs in accordance with customers on the virtualmachines so as to operate customer systems. In the example in FIG. 2,systems for A company, B company, and C company are running as customersystems.

The management apparatus 14 is a physical server that performsmanagement and operation of the server apparatuses 13, and is a servercomputer, for example. The management apparatus 14 manages virtualmachines that operate on the individual server apparatuses 13, andtransmits a migration instruction of a virtual machine to each of theserver apparatuses 13 in order to control migration of the virtualmachines.

The management apparatus 14 of each data center 11 is capable oftransmitting and receiving information with each other, and is capableof grasping the states of the other data centers 11 based on theinformation from the management apparatuses 14 of the other data centers11. In the information processing system 10, any one of the managementapparatuses 14 of the individual data centers 11 is operated as amanagement apparatus that manages the entire information processingsystem 10. The other management apparatuses 14 notify the states of thedata centers 11, respectively to the management apparatus 14 thatmanages the entire information processing system 10. For example, amanagement apparatus 14 has a master-servant relationship among themanagement apparatuses 14 of the other data centers 11. Themaster-servant relationship among the management apparatuses may be setin advance by an administrator, or a program may set along with apredetermined setting procedure. A subordinate management apparatus 14notifies the state of the data center 11 to the master managementapparatus 14. The master management apparatus 14 notifies an instructionon operation of the data centers 11 to the subordinate managementapparatuses 14 of the other data centers 11. For example, the mastermanagement apparatus 14 notifies a migration instruction of a virtualmachine to the subordinate management apparatuses 14 of the other datacenters 11. The subordinate management apparatuses 14 execute theinstruction on operation of the data centers 11 in accordance with theinstruction. For example, the subordinate management apparatus 14instructs the server apparatus 13 on migration, and causes to carry outmigration of a virtual machine in accordance with the migrationinstruction. In this regard, it is assumed that the management apparatus14 to be a master in the master-servant relationship is referred to as a“lead”. In the following, a description will be given on the assumptionthat the management apparatus 14 of the data center 11A is a “lead”.

Also, the data center 11 includes a solar panel 16, an inverter 17, awatt-hour meter 18, and a switchboard 19 as equipment that supplieselectric power to the plurality of server apparatuses 13, and themanagement apparatus 14.

The solar panel 16 is a panel for use in charging sunlight energy. Thedata center 11 is operated also using electric power generated by thesolar panel 16. The inverter 17 electrically converts direct-currentpower generated by the solar panel 16 into alternating-current power,and supplies the converted alternating-current power to the switchboard19 through the watt-hour meter 18. The watt-hour meter 18 measures theelectric energy generated by sunlight energy, and supplied from theinverter 17 to the switchboard 19. That is to say, the watt-hour meter18 measures electric energy generated by alternative energy resources.The electric energy measured by the watt-hour meter 18 is notified tothe management apparatus 14. The switchboard 19 individually receiveselectric power from a power company through the power transmission anddistribution network, and electric power from the inverter 17, andsupplies the electric power supplied from both of them to the managementapparatus 14, and the server apparatuses 13.

Configuration of Management Apparatus

Next, a description will be given of a configuration of the managementapparatus 14 according to a first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2,the management apparatus 14 includes a storage unit 30, and a controlunit 31. In this regard, the management apparatus 14 may include variouskinds of functional units included in a known computer in addition tothe functional units illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, the managementapparatus 14 may include a display unit that displays various kinds ofinformation, and an input unit that inputs various kinds of information.

The storage unit 30 is a storage device that stores various kinds ofdata. For example, the storage unit 30 is a storage device, such as ahard disk, a solid state drive (SSD), an optical disc, or the like. Inthis regard, the storage unit 30 may be a semiconductor memory thatallows rewriting data, such as a random access memory (RAM), a flashmemory, a non-volatile static random access memory (NVSRAM), or thelike.

The storage unit 30 stores an operating system (OS) and various programsthat are executed by the control unit 31. For example, the storage unit30 stores various programs including a program that executes themigration control processing described below. Further, the storage unit30 stores various kinds of data used by the programs executed by thecontrol unit 31. For example, the storage unit 30 stores running systeminformation 40, power generation result data 41, power generationprediction data 42, line bandwidth data 43, and migration requisite timedata 44.

The running system information 40 is data in which information onvirtual machines and systems that are running on each of the serverapparatuses 13. For example, in the running system information 40,virtual machines and systems that are running on server apparatuses 13are stored in association with each other.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of therunning system information. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the running systeminformation 40 has individual items of “apparatus ID”, “running VM”, and“running system”. The item apparatus ID is an area for storingidentification information of a server apparatus 13. A server apparatus13 is provided with an apparatus ID as identification information foridentifying each apparatus. In the item apparatus ID, an apparatus IDthat is given to that server apparatus 13 is stored. The item running VMis an area for storing identification information of a virtual machinethat is running on the server apparatus 13 having the apparatus ID. Avirtual machine is provided with a machine ID for identifying eachmachine as identification information for identifying each machine. Inthe item running VM, a machine ID that is given to the virtual machinerunning on the server apparatus 13 having the apparatus ID is stored.The item running system is an area for storing identificationinformation of an identification information of a system that is runningon the virtual machine. In the present embodiment, systems of A company,B company, and C company are running on the virtual machines,respectively. In the item running system, which company system isrunning on the virtual machine is stored.

The example in FIG. 3 illustrates that a virtual machine having themachine ID of “VM01” is running on the server apparatus 13 having theapparatus ID of “M01”, and the “A company” system is running on thevirtual machine.

The power generation result data 41 is data in which information onelectric energy generated by alternative energy resources in the datacenter 11 is stored. In the power generation result data 41, electricenergy generated by alternative energy resources is stored for each hourtogether with information on factors affecting power generation byalternative energy resources. The factors affecting the power generationis, for example, information on weather and sunshine hours in the caseof solar power generation, and for example, wind force information inthe case of wind power generation. In the present embodiment, electricenergy generated by the solar panel 16 is stored together with hours andweather in the power generation result data 41.

The power generation prediction data 42 is data in which information onelectric energy predicted to be generated by alternative energyresources from this time in the data center 11 is stored. In the presentembodiment, data of electric energy predicted to be generated by thesolar panel 16 is stored in the power generation prediction data 42.

The line bandwidth data 43 is data in which information on communicationof each of the data centers 11 is stored. For example, data of linebandwidth available for communication in each of the data centers 11 isstored in the line bandwidth data 43.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of linebandwidth data. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the line bandwidth data 43 hasindividual items of “country”, “line bandwidth”, and “system size”. Theitem country is an area for storing the location of the data center 11.The item line bandwidth is an area for storing a line bandwidth that thedata center 11 is allowed for communication. The item system size is anarea for storing the system size to be a migration target. In thepresent embodiment, systems of A company, B company, and C company aretargeted for migration.

The example in FIG. 4 illustrates that the data center 11 of A countryhas a line bandwidth of 1 Gbps, and the system size of the migrationtarget is xxx Pbytes. In the present embodiment, the system size ofsystems of A company, B company, and C company is xxx Pbytes.

The migration requisite time data 44 is data in which information ontime to be taken for migration. For example, in the migration requisitetime data 44, time to be taken at the time of completing migration of asystem to a migration target at each data center 11 is stored.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure ofmigration requisite time data. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the migrationrequisite time data 44 has individual items of “migration source”,“migration destination”, and “requisite time”. The item migration sourceis an area for storing a location of the data center 11 to be amigration source of the system. The item migration destination is anarea for storing a location of the data center 11 to be a migrationdestination of the system. The item requisite time is an area forstoring requisite time taken for causing a migration-target system tomigrate from the data center 11 of the migration source to the datacenter 11 to be the migration destination. The requisite time taken forcompleting the migration of a system to the migration target isobtained, for example by dividing the system size of themigration-target system by a lower line bandwidth out of the linebandwidth of the migration source and the line bandwidth of themigration destination.

The example in FIG. 5 illustrates that when a system of the migrationtarget is moved from the data center 11 of A country to the data center11 of B country, it takes xxx minutes.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the control unit 31 is a device forcontrolling the management apparatus 14. For the control unit 31, it ispossible to employ an electronic circuit, such as a central processingunit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), or the like, or an integratedcircuit, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA), or the like. The control unit 31includes an internal memory for storing programs defining variousprocessing procedures and control data, and executes various kinds ofprocessing by the processing procedures and the control data. Thecontrol unit 31 functions as various processing units by operating thevarious programs. For example, the control unit 31 includes anacquisition unit 50, a prediction unit 51, and a migration control unit52.

The acquisition unit 50 obtains various kinds of data. For example, theacquisition unit 50 obtains the power generation result data 41 from themanagement apparatuses 14 of the other each data centers 11. The powergeneration result data 41 may be transmitted periodically by themanagement apparatuses 14 of the other each data centers 11. Also, theacquisition unit 50 may request the management apparatuses 14 of theother each data centers 11 to transmit the power generation result data41, and the management apparatuses 14 of the other each data centers 11may transmit the power generation result data 41 in response to therequest.

Also, the acquisition unit 50 obtains information on factors that affectgeneration of alternative energy resources for each of the data centers11. For example, the acquisition unit 50 obtains weather informationproduced by predicting weather transition of each of the data centers11. The weather information may be obtained from a server of a supplierwho offers a service of providing weather information. Also, the weatherinformation may be obtained from input by an administrator, or the like.

The prediction unit 51 makes various predictions. For example, theprediction unit 51 predicts transition of electric energy generated byalternative energy resources, which is available for each of the datacenters 11. For example, the prediction unit 51 extracts powergeneration result in the case of having the same factors as the factorsaffecting power generation by alternative energy resources from thepower generation result data 41 of the data center 11 for each datacenter 11, and predicts transition of the electric energy. For example,the prediction unit 51 extracts transition of a power generation resultin the case of having the same weather as the weather indicated by theweather information of the data center 11 from the power generationresult data 41 of the data center 11 as a prediction result for eachdata center 11. In this regard, the electric energy generated byalternative energy resources may be the average value of the electricenergy generated at the same time in the same weather in the powergeneration result data 41. The prediction unit 51 stores the predictionvalue of the electric energy generated by alternative energy resourcesat each of the data centers 11 into the power generation prediction data42.

The migration control unit 52 performs migration of a virtual machine.The migration control unit 52 performs control in order to cause asystem to migrate to a data center 11 having a large amount of availableelectric energy generated by alternative energy resources of each of thedata centers 11 stored in the power generation prediction data 42. Forexample, the migration control unit 52 causes a system to migrate to adata center 11 having a largest amount of available electric energy in atransition of available electric energy.

Here, a description will be given using a specific example. FIG. 6 is adiagram illustrating an example of prediction results of transition ofelectric energy generated by each data center. In the example in FIG. 6,prediction results of transition of electric energy generated byalternative energy resources in the data centers 11 of four countries,namely A country, B country, C country, and D country, are illustrated.In the example in FIG. 6, the graphs of A country, B country, and Dcountry are transitions of electric energy generated by solar powergeneration. A country, B country, and D country have different sunshinetime zones with one another, and thus have different power generationperiods. Also, the predicted weather in A country, and D country isfine, and thus a large amount of electric energy is generated in thesecountries. On the other hand, the predicted weather in B country israin, and thus a small amount of electric energy is generated in thecountry. Also, the graph of C country is a transition of electric energygenerated by wind power generation. In the wind power generation,electric power is generated by wind, and thus is not affected by asunshine time zone. Accordingly, the graph of C country is differentfrom the graphs of A country, B country, and D country, and electricpower is generated when a wind starts to blow.

The migration control unit 52 compares available electric energy of eachof the data centers 11 for each time in the transition of predictedavailable electric energy in each of the data centers 11 to obtaintiming when a data center 11 having a largest amount of availableelectric energy changes. In the example in FIG. 6, timing T1 is timingwhen a data center 11 having a largest amount of available electricenergy is changed from the data center 11 of A country to the datacenter 11 of D country. Also, timing T2 is timing when a data center 11having a largest amount of available electric energy is changed from thedata center 11 of D country to the data center 11 of C country.

The migration control unit 52 determines the data center 11 before thechange to be a data center 11 before migration, and the data center 11after the change to be a data center 11 after migration at each obtainedtiming. The migration control unit 52 obtains a requisite time formigration from the data center 11 before migration to the data center 11after migration from the migration requisite time data 44. When the timereaches a requisite time before the timing to change to a data center 11having the largest available electric energy, the migration control unit52 obtains a server apparatus 13 of the migration source on which asystem caused to migrate is running, and a virtual machine caused tomigrate from the running system information 40. The migration controlunit 52 transmits a migration instruction of a virtual machine tomigrate to the server apparatus 13 of the data center 11 after thechange to the hypervisor of the server apparatus 13 of the migrationsource in order to cause the virtual machine to migrate. In this regard,if the migration control unit 52 instructs the server apparatus 13 ofthe other data centers 11 to migrate, the migration control unit 52 maytransmit a migration instruction through the management apparatus 14 ofthe other data center 11.

In the example in FIG. 6, the migration control unit 52 causes a systemto migrate from the data center 11 of A country to the data center 11 ofD country at timing T3, which is a migration requisite time before thetiming T1. Also, the migration control unit 52 causes a system tomigrate from the data center 11 of D country to the data center 11 of Ccountry at timing T4, which is a migration requisite time before timingT2.

Thereby, it is possible for the management apparatus 14 to completemigration of a system of a migration target in accordance with thetiming T1 and T2, at which a data center 11 having the largest amount ofavailable electric energy is changed.

When the migration is complete, the migration control unit 52 updatesthe server apparatus 13 on which a migration-target system is running inthe running system information 40 in accordance with the migrationresults.

Processing Flow

Next, a description will be given of a migration control processing flowthat the management apparatus 14 according to the first embodimentcontrols migration of a virtual machine between each of the data centers11. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure ofmigration control processing according to the first embodiment. Themigration control processing is executed at predetermined timing, forexample, once every day, or the like when prediction of transition ofelectric energy generated by alternative energy resources is performedat each of the data centers 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the acquisition unit 50 obtains the powergeneration result data 41 from each of the data centers 11 (S10). Theacquisition unit 50 obtains information on factors affecting the powergeneration by alternative energy resources in each of the data centers11 (S11). For example, the acquisition unit 50 obtains weatherinformation that predicts the transition of weather at each of the datacenters 11. The prediction unit 51 predicts transition of individuallyavailable electric energy generated by alternative energy resources ateach of the data centers 11 (S12).

The migration control unit 52 compares the transitions of predictedavailable electric energy of the individual data centers 11, anddetermines whether there is a data center 11 having a larger amount ofavailable electric energy than that of the data center 11 on which amigration target system is running (S13). If there are no data centers11 having a larger amount of available electric energy (S13 negation),the processing proceeds to S16 described later.

On the other hand, if there is a data center 11 having a larger amountof available electric energy (S13 affirmation), the migration controlunit 52 determines the data center 11 after the change to be the datacenter 11 after migration (S14). The migration control unit 52 obtainsthe migration start time in accordance with the timing to change to thedata center 11 having the largest available electric energy (S15). Forexample, the migration control unit 52 obtains the migration requisitetime from the migration requisite time data 44. The migration controlunit 52 obtains a migration start time, which is the requisite timebefore the timing to change to the data center 11 having the largestavailable electric energy.

The migration control unit 52 determines whether prediction of migrationschedule has been completed for the prediction period in which theprediction unit 51 predicted transition of electric energy generated byalternative energy resources (S16). If the prediction has not beencompleted (S16 negation), the processing proceeds to S13 describedabove.

On the other hand, if the prediction has been completed (S16affirmation), the migration control unit 52 determines whether themigration start time has come or not (S17). If the migration start timehas come (S17 affirmation), the migration control unit 52 instructsmigration of the migration target system (S18), and the processingproceeds to S17. On the other hand, if the migration start time has notcome (S17 negation), the processing proceeds to S19.

The migration control unit 52 determines whether the prediction periodduring which the prediction unit 51 has predicted transition of electricenergy generated by alternative energy resources has been completed ornot (S19). If the prediction period has not been completed (S19negation), the processing proceeds to S17 described above. On the otherhand, if the prediction period has been completed (S19 affirmation), theprocessing is terminated.

Advantages

As described above, the management apparatus 14 according to the presentembodiment predicts transition of available electric energy individuallygenerated by alternative energy resources at data centers 11 that areseparated geographically at a plurality of locations. The managementapparatus 14 causes the system to migrate to a data center 11 having alarge amount of predicted available electric energy. Thereby, it ispossible for the management apparatus 14 to run a system stably. Also,the electric power supplied from a commercial power source includes thepower generated by a nuclear power station and a thermal power station,and thus there are environmental problems, such as radioactivityproblems, and global warming by CO₂ emissions, and the like. On theother hand, the management apparatus 14 operates a system using electricenergy generated by alternative energy resources, and thus it ispossible to operate a system ecologically with a suppressed load on thenatural environment.

Also, the management apparatus 14 according to the present embodimentcauses a system to migrate to a data center 11 having the largestavailable electric energy in the transition of the predicted availableelectric energy. Thereby, it is possible for the management apparatus 14to stably operate a system even in the case where a large amount ofelectric energy is consumed by the system.

Also, the management apparatus 14 according to the present embodimentstarts migration of a system to the data center 11 at a requisite timefor migration to the data center 11 before the timing when the datacenter 11 having the largest amount of available electric energy ischanged in the transition of predicted available electric energy.Thereby, it is possible for the management apparatus 14 to completemigration of a system to the data center 11 having the largest amount ofavailable electric energy at the timing when the data center 11 havingthe largest amount of available electric energy is changed.

Second Embodiment

Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment. Theconfigurations of the information processing system 10, the data center11, the server apparatus 13, and the management apparatus 14 accordingto the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and thus a description will be given ofparts that are mainly different from the parts of the first embodiment.

The migration control unit 52 pauses migration of a system to the datacenter having a large amount of electric energy for a predetermined timeperiod after the migration of the system.

Here, a description will be given using a specific example. FIG. 8 is adiagram illustrating an example of prediction results of transition ofelectric energy generated by each data center. In the example in FIG. 8,prediction results of transition of electric energy generated byalternative energy resources in the data centers 11 of two countries,namely A country, and B country, are illustrated. In the example in FIG.8, the graphs of A country, and B country are transitions of electricenergy generated by wind power generation. The wind power generation isgenerating electric power by wind, and thus electric energy generated bywind force sometimes changes frequently. In the example in FIG. 8, thegraphs of A country, and B country intersect at points A, B, C, and D.In this manner, in the case where a data center 11 having the largestamount of available electric energy changes frequently, if a systemmigrates to a data center 11 having the largest amount of availableelectric energy, migration of a system is carried out frequently, andthus the operation efficiency of the system is deteriorated.

Thus, even if a data center 11 having the largest amount of availableelectric energy changes, the migration control unit 52 does not transmita migration instruction in order for the migration of the system topause for a predetermined period after transmitting a migrationinstruction. For example, the migration control unit 52 causes themigration of the system to pause for the longest requisite time storedin the migration requisite time data 44 after transmitting a migrationinstruction.

In the example in FIG. 8, it is assumed that a migration requisite timebetween A country and B country is a, and a period for pausing themigration of the system is also the requisite time a. The migrationcontrol unit 52 causes the system to migrate from the data center 11 ofA country to the data center 11 of the B country at timing T6, which isthe requisite time before timing T5 of point A. Timing T7 of point B iswithin the requisite time a from the timing T6. Accordingly, themigration control unit 52 causes the migration of the system to pause attiming T7. The system is running on the data center 11 of B country, andthus the system is running on the data center 11 of B country withoutperforming migration at point C. At point D, a data center 11 having thelargest amount of available electric energy changes from B country to Acountry. Accordingly, the migration control unit 52 causes the system tomigrate from the data center 11 of B country to the data center 11 of Acountry at timing T9, which is the requisite time a before timing T8 ofpoint D.

Thereby, it is possible for the management apparatus 14 to avoiddeterioration of operation efficiency of the system even in the casewhere the data center 11 having the largest amount of available electricenergy changes frequently.

Processing Flow

A description will be given of a migration control processing flow inwhich the management apparatus 14 according to the second embodimentcontrols migration of a virtual machine between the individual datacenters 11. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedureof migration control processing according to the second embodiment. Inthis regard, a same symbol is given to a same part of the migrationcontrol processing according to the first embodiment, which isillustrated in FIG. 7, and a description will be mainly given ofdifferent parts.

If there is a data center 11 having a larger amount of availableelectric energy (S13 affirmation), the migration control unit 52determines whether the timing when the data center 11 having a largeramount of available electric energy changes is within the previousmigration stop period or not (S20). If the timing is within themigration stop period (S20 affirmation), the processing proceeds to S13described above, and the migration control unit 52 obtains the nexttiming when the data center 11 having a larger amount of availableelectric energy is changed.

Also, after the processing of S15, the migration control unit 52determines that the longest requisite time stored in the migrationrequisite time data 44 from the timing when the data center 11 havingthe largest amount of available electric energy is changed is a stopperiod (S21), and the processing proceeds to S16.

Advantages

As described above, in the management apparatus 14 according to thepresent embodiment, migration of a system to the data center 11 having alarger amount of available electric energy pauses during a predeterminedperiod after the system starts migration. Thereby, it is possible forthe management apparatus 14 to avoid deterioration of operationefficiency of the system even in the case where a data center 11 havingthe largest amount of available electric energy changes frequently.

Third Embodiment

Now, descriptions have been given of an apparatus according to theembodiments of the disclosure. However, the disclosed technique may becarried out by the various modes other than the embodiments describedabove. Thus, in the following, a description will be given of the otherembodiments included in the present disclosure.

For example, in the above-described embodiments, descriptions have beengiven of the cases of using solar power generation and wind powergeneration as power generation by alternative energy resources. However,the disclosed apparatus is not limited to this. For example, the powergeneration by alternative energy resources may be hydroelectric powergeneration, wave power generation, geothermal power generation, orbiomass power generation. In the case where power generation byalternative energy resources is carried out at a place other than thedata center 11, data on electric energy generated by alternative energyresources is obtained from a power generation source, and is stored inthe power generation result data 41.

Also, in the above-described embodiments, descriptions have been givenof the cases where a system is caused to migrate to a data center 11having a larger amount of available electric energy generated byalternative energy resources. However, the disclosed apparatus is notlimited to this. For example, in the case where electric energy consumedby a system is not less than electric energy generated by alternativeenergy resources, the system may be caused to migrate to a data center11 having a larger amount of available electric energy generated byalternative energy resources. For example, the storage unit 30 storesused electric power data on the electric energy that has been used byeach of the systems running on a virtual machine. Then, the predictionunit 51 predicts transition of electric energy consumed by the systemsduring a prediction period from the electric energy used by each of thesystems in the similar period in the past based on the used electricpower data. In the case where electric energy consumed by a system inthe data center 11 where the system is running is not less than electricenergy generated by alternative energy resources, the migration controlunit 52 may cause the system to migrate to a data center 11 having alarger amount of available electric energy generated by alternativeenergy resources.

Also, each component of each apparatus illustrated in the figure isfunctionality-conceptually, and does not have to be physicallyconfigured as illustrated in the figure. That is to say, a specificstate of distribution and integration of each apparatus is not limitedto that illustrated in the figure, and it is possible to configure allof them or a part of them by functionally or physically distributing orintegrating in any units in accordance with various loads, a use state,and the like. For example, each processing unit of the acquisition unit50, the prediction unit 51, and the migration control unit 52 may besuitably integrated. Also, the processing of each processing unit may besuitably separated into a plurality of processing units. Further, it ispossible to perform all of or any part of each processing functionperformed by each processing unit by the CPU and a program analyzed andexecuted by the CPU, or by wired-logic hardware.

Migration Control Program

Also, it is possible to achieve various kinds of processing described inthe above-described embodiments by executing prepared programs on acomputer system, such as a personal computer, a workstation, or thelike. Thus, in the following, a description will be given of an exampleof a computer system that executes a program having the same functionsas those in the embodiments described above. FIG. 10 is a diagramillustrating a computer that executes a migration control program.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, a computer 300 includes circuitry such as acentral processing unit (CPU) 310, a hard disk drive (HDD) 320, and arandom access memory (RAM) 340. Each of the units 300 to 340 isconnected through a bus 400.

The HDD 320 stores a migration control program 320 a that has the samefunctions as the above-described acquisition unit 50, prediction unit 51and migration control unit 52 in advance. In this regard, the migrationcontrol program 320 a may be suitably separated.

Also, the HDD 320 stores various kinds of information. For example, theHDD 320 stores various kinds of data for use in the OS and productionplanning.

Then, the CPU 310 reads the migration control program 320 a from the HDD320, and executes the program so as to perform the same operation asthat of each of the processing units in the embodiments. That is to say,the migration control program 320 a performs the same operation as thoseof the acquisition unit 50, the prediction unit 51, and the migrationcontrol unit 52.

In this regard, the above-described migration control program 320 a doesnot have to be stored in the HDD 320 from the beginning.

For example, the migration control program 320 a is stored in a“portable physical medium”, such as a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, aDVD disc, a magneto-optical disc, an IC card, or the like that isinserted into the computer 300. Then, the computer 300 may read theprogram from these, and execute the program.

Further, “the other computers (or servers)” or the like that areconnected to the computer 300 through a public network, the Internet, aLAN, a WAN, or the like may store the program. Then, the computer 300may read the program from the other computers to execute the program.

All examples and conditional language provided herein are intended forthe pedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding theinvention and the concepts contributed by the inventor co further theart, and are not to be construed as limitations to such specificallyrecited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of suchexamples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority andinferiority of the invention. Although one or more embodiments of thepresent invention have been described in detail, it should be understoodthat the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be madehereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: circuitry configured todetermine available electric energy to be supplied to each of aplurality of servers over a predetermined period of time based onelectric energy generated by alternative energy sources for each of theplurality of servers disposed at a plurality of geographically separatelocations, each of the plurality of servers being configured to run avirtual machine; and control a virtual machine running on a first serverof the plurality of servers to migrate to a second server of theplurality of servers, which is determined to have a larger amount ofavailable electric energy than the first server.
 2. The system accordingto claim 1, wherein the system is a management apparatus configured tocontrol the plurality of servers.
 3. The system according to claim 1,wherein the system includes: the plurality of servers; and a managementapparatus configured to control the plurality of servers, wherein themanagement apparatus is configured to control migration of virtualmachines run by each of the plurality of servers based on the determinedavailable electric energy to be supplied to each of the plurality ofservers.
 4. The system according to claim 1, comprising: the pluralityof servers; and a plurality of management apparatuses each configured tocontrol one corresponding server included in the plurality of servers;control a virtual machine run by the corresponding server to migrate toanother server, which is determined to have a larger amount of availableelectric energy than the corresponding server.
 5. The system accordingto claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of managementapparatuses is configured to control another management apparatuscorresponding to the another server to perform the migration of thevirtual machine.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein thecircuitry is configured to start migration of the virtual machine to thesecond server before a timing when the second server is determined tohave a larger amount of available electric energy than the first server.7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configuredto prevent migration of the virtual machine from the second server for apredetermined period of time after migration of the virtual machine fromthe first server to the second server.
 8. The system according to claim1, wherein the circuitry is configured to prevent migration of thevirtual machine from the second server for a predetermined period oftime after migration of the virtual machine from the first server to thesecond server even when it is determined that another server of theplurality of servers is determined to have a larger amount of availableelectric energy than the second server.
 9. The system according to claim1, wherein the available electric energy to be supplied to each of theplurality of servers is determined based on weather informationcorresponding to each of the plurality of locations at which theplurality of servers are located.
 10. The system according to claim 1,wherein the circuitry is configured to control the virtual machine tomigrate from the first server when electric energy consumed by the firstserver exceeds the available electric energy generated by thealternative energy source for the first server.
 11. The system accordingto claim 10, wherein the available electric energy to be supplied toeach of the plurality of servers is determined based on a history ofpower consumption by each of the servers over a similar time range. 12.A method of controlling migration, the method comprising: determining,by circuitry, available electric energy to be supplied to each of aplurality of servers over a predetermined period of time based onelectric energy generated by alternative energy sources for each of theplurality of servers disposed at a plurality of geographically separatelocations, each of the plurality of servers being configured to run avirtual machine; and controlling, by the circuitry, a virtual machinerunning on a first server of the plurality of servers to migrate to asecond server of the plurality of servers, which is determined to have alarger amount of available electric energy than the one of the pluralityof server apparatuses.
 13. The method according to claim 12, furthercomprising: controlling, by the circuitry, the virtual machine tomigrate to one of the plurality of servers which is determined to have alargest amount of available electric energy.
 14. The method according toclaim 12, further comprising: starting, by the circuitry, migration ofthe virtual machine to the second server when the second server isdetermined to have a larger amount of available electric energy than thefirst server.
 15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:preventing, by the circuitry, migration of the virtual machine from thesecond server for a predetermined period of time after migration of thevirtual machine from the first server to the second server.
 16. Themethod according to claim 12, further comprising: preventing, by thecircuitry, migration of the virtual machine from the second server for apredetermined period of time after migration of the virtual machine fromthe first server to the second server even when it is determined thatanother server of the plurality of servers is determined to have alarger amount of available electric energy than the second server. 17.The method according to claim 12, wherein the available electric energyto be supplied to each of the plurality of servers is determined basedon weather information corresponding to each of the plurality oflocations at which the plurality of servers are located.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 12, further comprising: controlling the virtualmachine to migrate from the first server when electric energy consumedby the first server exceeds the available electric energy generated bythe alternative energy sources for the first server.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 18, wherein the available electric energy to besupplied to each of the plurality of servers is determined based on ahistory of power consumption by each of the servers over a similar timerange.
 20. One or more computer readable medium including one or morecomputer-programs, which when executed by a system, cause the system to:determine available electric energy to be supplied to each of aplurality of servers over a predetermined period of time based onelectric energy generated by alternative energy sources for each of theplurality of servers disposed at a plurality of geographically separatelocations, each of the plurality of servers being configured to run avirtual machine; and control a virtual machine running on a first serverof the plurality of servers to migrate to a second server of theplurality of servers, which is determined to have a larger amount ofavailable electric energy than the first server.